Latch apparatus

ABSTRACT

A latch apparatus includes a holder, a locking member capable of being received in the holder and a driving member connecting to the locking member. The holder includes an accessing hole in one of the sidewalls thereof. The locking member includes a locking portion and is movably placed between a first position and a second position. When the locking member moves to the first position, the locking portion extends out of the holder via the holder accessing hole. When the locking member moves to the second position, the locking portion is received in the holder. The driving member is capable of be manipulated to slide and cause the movement of the locking member from the first position to the second position.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to latch apparatuses and, more particularly, to a latch apparatus for retaining a functional module to a chassis.

2. Description of Related Art

Typically, an electronic device, such as a server, includes a chassis and a plurality of functional modules received in the chassis. For convenient maintenance, hot-plug functional modules are applied in servers more and more. Conventional approaches to retaining functional modules to the chassis, such as using screws, are not convenient for hot-plug functional modules because it is too tedious and time-consuming. Devices capable of retaining functional modules reliably and conveniently to a chassis are desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a latch apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with a functional module and a chassis.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded, isometric views of the latch apparatus of FIG. 1 viewed from different aspects.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, assembled view of the latch apparatus and the functional module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, sectional view of the latch apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along the line V-V in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are also sectional views of the latch apparatus of FIG. 1, similar to FIG. 5, but the latch apparatus is in different statuses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a latch apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided for retaining a functional module 100 to a chassis 200 having a locking hole 202 defined in a sidewall thereof. The functional module 100 includes a sidewall 101 for the latch mechanism attached thereon. The sidewall 101 includes two pairs of tabs 102 protruding inwards therefrom and respectively arranged near opposite ends thereof. Therefore, there are a plurality of receiving spaces 103 defined between the tabs 102 and the sidewall 101. A locating hole 104 and a through hole 106 are defined in the middle of the sidewall 101. A through hole 108 is defined in the front wall of the functional modules 100 near the sidewall 101.

Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the latch apparatus includes a driving member 10, a locking member 20, a support 30, a holder 40, a cover 50, a first resilient member 60, a second resilient member 70, and a pair of shafts 80, 90.

The driving member 10 includes a main body 14, an operating portion 12 and a connecting portion 16. The operating portion 12 and the connecting portion 16 extends from opposite ends of the main body 14. The connecting portion 16 includes a pair of connecting panels offset from each other. A pair of shoulders 162 is respectively formed on distal ends of the connecting panels. A pair of sliding slots 164 is defined in the connecting panels near the shoulder 162 and aligned with each other. A pair of mounting holes 166 is defined in a middle of the corresponding connecting panels and aligned with each other. A reinforcing portion 168 is formed between the connecting panels and located near the main body 14. An engaging hole 1682 is defined in the reinforcing portion 168.

The locking member 20 includes a pair of posts 22 extending from opposite sides thereof configured to be received in the driving member sliding slot 164, and a pair of tabs 26 extending from the opposite sides thereof adapted to engage with the driving member shoulders 162. The posts 22 are arranged near a first end of the locking member 20. The tabs 26 are arranged at a middle of the locking member 20. The locking member 20 also includes a pivoting hole 24 and a wedge-shaped locking portion 28 arranged at a second end thereof.

The support 30 includes a pivoting portion 32 extending from a first end thereof configured to be received in the locking member pivoting hole 24, and a pivoting hole 34 defined in a second end thereof. The support 30 also defines a recessed portion 36 in a side edge thereof.

The holder 40 is built up by a pair of first sidewalls 41, a second sidewall 43 perpendicularly connecting to the first sidewalls 41 and an end wall 45 perpendicularly engaged with the first sidewalls 41 and the second sidewall 43. An end opposite to the end wall 45 and a side opposite to the second sidewall 43 are open. Therefore, a receiving room is defined in the holder 40 adapted to receive the driving member 10, the locking member 20 and the support 30. A pair of guiding slots 412 are defined in the first sidewalls 41 and aligned with each other. Each guiding slot 412 includes a sliding portion 4122 and a positioning portion 4124 communicating with each other. A neck portion 4126 with a width slightly less than that of the sliding portion 4122 is formed between the sliding portion 4122 and the positioning portion 4124. The first sidewalls 41 further define a pair of fixing holes 414 aligned with each other, and a pair of detents 416 in an end far away from the end wall 45. The second sidewall 43 includes an accessing hole 434 defined therein, a snapping portion 436 protruding therefrom, and two pairs of ears 431 respectively formed on opposite ends thereof. The end wall 45 includes a retaining portion 452 defined therein. A first engaging portion 437 and a second engaging portion 439 (shown in FIG. 5) are formed in the holder 40. The first engaging portion 437 defines an engaging hole 4372 therein. The second engaging portion 439 defines a through hole therein (not shown).

The cover 50 includes a claw 52 perpendicularly extending from a first end, and a pair of engaging teeth 54 formed on a second end. A pair of limiting portions 56 extends from the middle of the cover 50 near the claw 52.

In the present invention, the first resilient member 60 is a coil spring with a pair of hooks 62 respectively extending from opposite ends thereof.

In the present invention, the second resilient 70 is a torque spring having a first arm 72 and a second arm 74 respectively extending from opposite ends thereof. The distal end of the first arm 72 is bent for engaging with the recessed portion 36 of the support 30.

Referring also to FIG. 5 together with the FIGS. 2 and 3, to assemble the latch apparatus, the first end of locking member 20 is received between the driving member connecting panels and the posts 22 are respectively movably received in the sliding slots 164. The pivoting portion 32 of the support 30 is pivotably received in the pivoting hole 24 of the locking member 20. Thus, the driving member 10, the locking member 20, and the support 30 are connected in turn. The driving member connecting portion 16, the locking 20 and the support 30 are received in the holder 40 to align locking the portion 28 with the accessing hole 434. The shaft 80 is fixed in the mounting holes 166 with opposite ends thereof extending out of opposite sides of the locking member 20 and is slidably received in the guiding slots 412. The second resilient member 70 is received in the holder 40 and engaged between the support 30 and a first sidewall 41. The shaft 90 passes through the pivoting hole 34 and the first resilient member 70, and fixed in the fixing hole 414. The first arm 72 engages with the recessed portion 36, the second arm 74 is inserted into the engaging hole 4372 of the engaging portion 437. The first end of the support 30, on which the pivoting portion 32 is formed, is biased towards the holder accessing hole 434 by the second resilient member 70. Therefore the locking member 20 is also biased to a position in which the locking portion 28 extends out via the accessing hole 434. The first resilient member 60 is engaged between the reinforcing portion 168 of the driving member 10 and the engaging portion 439 of the holder 40. The first resilient member hooks 62 are respectively engaged in the engaging hole 1682 and the engaging portion through hole 439. The claw 52 of the cover 50 is engaged with the retaining portion 452 and the engaging teeth 54 is snapped in the detents 416, thus, the cover 50 covers an opened side of the holder 40. At the same time, the limiting portion 56 abuts against the support 30 to prevent the support 30 from deviating and disengaging from the am 72.

Referring also to FIG. 4, in assembly of the latch apparatus and the functional module 100, the holder 40 abuts against an inner surface of the functional module sidewall 101. The ears 431 are retained in the receiving spaces 103. The snapping portion 436 is fixed in the locating hole 104. Thus, the holder 40 is securely attached to the sidewall 101. At the same time, the operating portion 12 extends out of the functional module 100 via the though hole 108. The functional module through hole 106 is substantially aligned with holder accessing hole 434, therefore, the locking portion 28 retractably extends out through the through hole 106.

Referring also to FIG. 6, when the functional module 100 equipped with the latch apparatus is slid into the chassis 200, the locking portion 28 abuts against the chassis sidewall to be urged to retract into the holder 40 via the accessing hole 434. The posts 22 slides along the sliding slots 164 towards the operation portion 12. The support 30 is pivoted with the movement of the locking member 20 so that the second resilient member 70 is compressed. Once the holder accessing hole 434 is substantially aligned with the chassis locking hole 202, the second resilient member 70 is restored to bias the support 30 to pivot towards the accessing hole 434, and the locking member 20 is moved accordingly. As a result, the locking portion 28 extends out though the accessing hole and retained in the chassis locking hole 202, and locking member posts 22 slides back to the position shown in FIG. 5.

Referring also to FIG. 7, the operating portion 12 is pushed in a direction indicated by arrow A. The shaft 80 slides along the hold guiding slots 412 towards the positioning portion 4124 with the movement of the driving member 10. When the shaft 80 is snapped into the positioning portion 4124, the driving member shoulders 162 abut against the locking member tabs 26. As a result, the locking member 20 achieves a stable status because of the obstruction from the driving member 10.

Referring also to FIG. 8, to detach the functional module 100 from the chassis 200, the operation portion 12 is pulled in a direction indicated by arrow B. The shaft 80 is disengaged from the guiding slot positioning portions 4124 via the guiding slot neck portions 4126 and slides along the guiding slot sliding portions 4122. The driving member 10 slides in relative to the locking member 20 until end rims of the sliding slots 164 engage with the locking member posts 22. Then, the posts 22 slide with the driving member 10. The locking member 20 rotates about the posts 22 so that the locking portion 28 moves into the holder 40 via the accessing hole 434 to compress the second resilient member 70. The locking portion 28 is now disengaged from the chassis locking hole 202, as a result, the functional module 100 can be pulled out of the chassis 200. Once the functional module 100 is detached from the chassis 200, the operating portion 12 is released, therefore the first resilient member 60 is restored to slide the driving member 10 inwards the functional module 100. Then, the second resilient member 70 biases the locking member locking portion 28 out of the holder 40 and is ready for next attachment to the chassis 200.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A latch apparatus comprising: a holder comprising a sidewall defining an accessing hole therein; a locking member capable of being received in the holder, comprising a locking portion and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the locking portion extends out of the holder via the holder accessing hole, and in the second position, the locking portion is received in the holder; and a driving member connecting to the locking member, and capable of be manipulated to slide and cause the movement of the locking member from the first position to the second position.
 2. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member is resiliently biased towards the first position.
 3. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a resilient member resiliently biasing the locking member towards the first position.
 4. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a support, wherein a first end of the support is capable of pivotably connected to the locking member and a second end of the support is pivotally engaged with the holder; the resilient member is a torque spring located near the second end of the support, a first arm of the resilient member is engaged with the support and a second arm of the resilient member fixed to the holder.
 5. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving member further comprises a sliding slot defined in an end thereof, the locking member comprises a post pivotally and slidably received in the sliding slot.
 6. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder further comprises at least one another wall defining a guiding slot therein, and a shaft fixed to the driving member, the shaft is slidably received in the guiding slot.
 7. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guiding slot comprises a sliding portion, a positioning portion and a neck portion formed between the sliding portion and the positioning portion.
 8. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the driving member comprises at least one shoulder; the locking member comprises at least one tab protruding from a side thereof adapted to abut against the shoulder of the locking member.
 9. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover, wherein the holder comprises an opening configured to be covered by the cover.
 10. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a claw and a pair of engaging teeth formed on opposite ends thereof; the holder further comprises a retaining portion and pair of detents capable of engaging with the cover claw and engaging teeth, respectively.
 11. The latch apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cover comprises at least one limiting portion extending therefrom, and configured to abut against the support.
 12. A functional module assembly adapted to be retained in a chassis defining a locking hole therein, the functional module assembly comprising: a functional module; and a latch mechanism attached to the functional module and comprising: a locking member configured to be biased to engage with the chassis locking hole; and a driving member connected to the locking member, and capable of be manipulated to slide with respect to the function module and enable the disengagement of the locking member from the chassis locking hole overcoming the biasing.
 13. The functional module assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a holder configured to be fixed to the functional module and receive the locking member.
 14. The functional module assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a torque spring received in the holder, and adapted to bias the locking member to extend out of the holder and engage with the chassis locking hole.
 15. The functional module assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the locking member is pivotally connected to the driving member, and the locking member is capable of being pivoted to disengage from the chassis locking hole when the driving member slides. 